A pressure controller of selective cerebral perfusion with single centrifugal pump

We are developing an original nonroller extracorporeal circulation system (NRECC). However, this NRECC could not perform selective cerebral perfusion (SCP). Therefore, we added cerebral perfusion lines and an automatic pressure controller to the system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability and response of the pressure controller for the SCP in simulated clinical circulation. The NRECC consists of a centrifugal pump, four isolated vacuum suction lines and a conventional module. The SCP line branches from the main perfusion tubing and divides into three lines. Cerebral perfusion is regulated by a pressure controller, which is composed of an actuator, a pressure transducer, and a personal computer. The mock circuit was primed with normal saline, and the actual SCP pressure and flow were measured when the target pressure settled at 60, 80, and 100 mm Hg. The main perfusion flow was maintained at 4 L/min and the main perfusion pressure was altered from 120 to 300 mm Hg. The pressure and flow data were recorded. The SCP pressure was maintained within +/-1.47 mm Hg when the set pressure was 80 mm Hg. Fluctuation of flow in the SCP line was within the range of +/-2.8%. The time needed to reach the steady state pressure was 8+/-1 seconds when the initial setting of the roller occluder was full-open, and it took only 3+/-1 seconds to reach the next initial set pressure. We have developed the NRECC-SCP system. The SCP pressure is stable and quickly reaches steady state via the pressure controller. This system is useful for extracorporeal circulation during aortic arch operation.